Murder charge in Newark baby death

October 20, 2008 4:49:56 PM PDT

Eyewitness News

NEWARK, N.J. --

Authorities say a baby who died Friday in Newark under suspicious circumstances was killed by blunt force trauma. Charges against 22-year-old Everette Sheppard, the boyfriend of the infant's mother, have been upgraded to murder.

Police arrested Sheppard Friday night and charged him with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

It is not immediately known if Sheppard has retained a lawyer.

Police were called to the home Friday afternoon and found a 9-month-old girl in cardiac arrest. She died later at a hospital.

The infant's mother, 19-year-old Sheila Troutman, has not been charged.

The baby's two-year-old sibling is in the custody of the Division of Youth and Family Services.